Our camera trap studies reveal the wealth of fauna in Tambopata

11 December 2018 (63 visits)

Camera traps deployed in the tropical rainforests around our Ecolodge have provided fresh insights into the health of the forests we maintain within our Tambopata Ecolodge Private Conservation Area, and in the Tambopata National Reserve where we operate many of our itineraries.

The deployment of camera traps throughout August and September 2018 enabled the recording of several major species of Amazon rainforest fauna, and has resulted in improvements in our understanding of ecological relationships and the demographic dynamic among the biological diversity of the forests and wetlands of the protected natural area we are working to protect.

The Tambopata Ecolodge Private Conservation Area is a conservation concession granted to our Ecolodge by the Peruvian government for an initial period of forty years, in acknowledgement of our commitment as a company to the conservation of more than 527 hectares of untouched primary forest. As part of that commitment, we are responsible for protecting both the flora and fauna of this important area of Amazon rainforest habitat.

In order to assess the success of our conservation work, measure impacts from areas of threatened forest that border our protected area, and monitor improvements over time in the health of the rainforest we manage, we conduct periodic studies of the fauna and flora under our protection. Negative impacts in many of the areas surrounding the Tambopata Ecolodge Private Conservation Area include those derived from non-sustainable activities such as farming and cattle ranching, as well as illegal logging, hunting and gold mining activities. Our task is to continue to protect the forests we manage from such existential threats.

As part of our conservation work, we enjoy an ongoing collaborative relationship with the Madre de Dios Amazonian National University (UNAMAD), and the academic and conservationist Dr. Rolando Mishari Garcia Roca. Together with the university, we use camera traps and –more recently- unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to study the fauna in the forests around the Ecolodge and to protect those same forests from incursions by anyone contemplating illegal activities that might threaten the natural harmony of this corner of the Amazon basin.

While our use of drones has facilitated work to ensure the integrity of the forests we are responsible for, our deployment of camera traps has confirmed that numbers of major species within our forests have continued to grow.

A camera trap is a remotely activated camera equipped with a motion or infrared sensor, or which uses a light beam as a trigger. It is a non-invasive tool employed increasingly by conservation concessions like our own, to detect rare species and to assess population size and species diversity. During our camera trap study in August and September 2018, we were able to confirm the health of several major species of fauna, including the endangered jaguar, giant anteater, ocelot, the extremely rare short-eared Amazon dog, red-brocket deer, margay, white-lipped peccary, and puma.

To view a selection of the videos we shot using our camera traps, click on the accompanying image.

What your rainforest visit means

In Peru ecotourism has helped make it possible to create national reserves and save the forests of the Amazon basin from destruction. By implementing our ecotourism-based conservation model (see our video), we are ensuring the forests will be around for future generations to appreciate. Pioneering projects like Tambopata Ecolodge, which was established in 1991, serve as a conservation model, by showing how responsible ecotourism can support conservation initiatives.

Enjoy an upgrade to SUITE for the cost of a SUPERIOR room. This offer is subject to availability. To take advantage of this offer, click here and fill out the form, indicating your selected dates, and requesting this promotional offer.

Enjoy 25% off any room type, available for the Rainforest Experience or Rainforest Encounter programs. To take advantage of this offer, click on the program you’re interested in, enter your dates, and select the room type available, number of people, and the other options. The discount will be applied to the rates automatically.

The comfort of our guests is our priority; we do not operate camping itineraries from November 1st to March 31st.